Golf club



Oct. 11, 1932. H. c. LAGERBLADE GOLF CLUB Filed Oct. 17. 1930 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES HERBERT C. LAGERBLADE, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HORTON PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF IBBISTOL, CONNECTIGURQA CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT GOLF CLUB Application filed October 17, 1930. Serial No.;489,402.

This invention relates to improvements in golf clubs and particularly to a novel form of securing means for attaching the tubular metallic golf club shaft to the golf club head.

At the present time adapters are quite commonly utilized for fitting metallic golf shafts to the club heads. Described generally they consist of a tubular sleeve that projects partly without the socket of the club head and partly within said socket, the adapter surrounding the handle shaft in the socket and insuring a neat fit of the shaft therein.

In the present instance, however, the sock: et in the club head is formed of a major and a minor diameter, its inner portion being of reduced diameter in which the end of the golf club shaft makes a driving fit and its outer end being of major diameter in which the socalled adapter makes a driving fit. This driving fit rather securely holds the shaft and adapter in the socket but, in addition, separate means are used for securing the shaft in the socket and additional means are likewise provided for firmly holding the adapter in engagement with the club head. In addition, that portion of the adapter fitting in the socket is of cylindrical cross section but the portion that extends upwardly along the shaft without the socket is tapered. This tapering portion not only adds greatly to the appearance of the club but it also facilitates the distribution of strains throughout a greater portion of the shaft. This tapered portion of the adapter has a shoulder which seats against the end of the club head and to firmly retain the adapter in engagement with the club head there is wedged on the shaft a ring member abutting against the end of the adapter.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrange-- ments of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a finished golf club embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the club head 7 socket with the shaft and adapter removed;

and V r a r Fig. Sis a similar view showing the shaft and adapter secured in the head.

In accordance with the present invention the club head is formed with an axial bore having its inner end portion 11 of reduced diameterand its outer end portion 12 of enlarged diameter. The tubular metallic shaft is is adapted to make a driving fit in this reduced portion of the socket and interposed between the shaft and the wall of the enlarged portion of the socket is the fitting or so-called adapter 13. That portion of the adapter within the socket iscylindrical in cross-section as is also the enlarged portion of the socket and this cylindrical portion of the adapter makes a driving fit in the socket. Above the end of the club head the adapter is tapered and extends an appreciable distance upwardly around shaft 14.

1 To secure the shaft in the head there is a rivet 17 extending transversely through said head and shaft. Preferably, this rivet is located at a point beyond the inner end of the adapter. The adapter is, of course, rather firmly held in the socket by'its driving fit therein as well as by the fact that the shaft also makes a very neat fit in the adapter.

However, under certain conditions the adapter might work loose. For this reason there is placed around the shafta ring 15 of a diameter that will cause it tobe securely wedged on the shaft and against the end of the adapt-er with the adapter abutting against the end of the club head-at the time the club shaft is driven home in the club head socket. In other words, when the club is assembledithe ring 15 is placed on the end of the shaft and after the adapter has been driven into the socket the shaft is then driven through the adapter 'and into reduced portion of the socket. The parts are so dimensioned that at the time the end of the shaft engages the bottom of the socket, the ring 15 will have become wedged on the shaft against the end of the adapter with theadapterfirmly in engagement with the end of the club head.

This form of attachment is not only ex-- ceedingly efficient but its simplicity is such as to materially reduce production cost on the club. The ring member 15 is of importance in insuring the adapter being held against thevclub head. Also in conpmction with the tape-ring end of the adapter, this ring member gives the club a very pleasing and attractive appearance. It can be made of various colors and adds greatly to the appear-ance of the finished club. Again, the driving fit of a goodly portion of the shaft in the socket tends to distribute strains along the shaft; that portion of the adapter Within the socket tends to further distribute the. strains. Another important feature is that the adaper has a cushioning effect on the shaft when a stroke is made with the club and the tapering portion of the adapter extending upwardly of the shaft in the socket further increases the area of the shaft over which strains are distributed.

An adapter somewhat similar to the present one is'illustrated in my pending application Serial No. 311,201, and as far as features common to the two cases are concerned, the present application is a continuation of said pending case.

WVhat I claim is: 1. In a construction of thecharacte'r described, a metallic golf club head provided a with a hosel having an axial bore, said bore beyond the head, means for securing the shaft in the socket, and a ring wedged on said shaft engaging the outer end of the tapering portion of said adapter and holding the same firmly against the end of the club head.

HERBERT O; LAGERBLADE.

said bore of minor diameter, an adapter conineansengaging the outer end of the adapter for securing said adapter in the hosel.

2 A golf club comprising a head having a socket therein of reduced diameter adjacent it'sinner end and of cylindrical cross'section at its outer end, a tapered shaft fitting in the reduced portion of the socket, an adapter surrounding said shaft and formed with a cylindrical portion fitting in the cylindrical portion of the socket, means for fastening the shaft in the head, and means on the shaft engaging theouter end of the adapter for holding the adapter firmly in engagement with the end of said head.

3. A golfclub comprising a head having a socket therein of reduced diameter adjacent its inner end and of cylindrical cross section at its outer end, a tapered shaft fitting in the reduced portion of the socket, an adapter surrounding said shaft, said shaft making a driving fit in said adapter, said adapter having a cylindrical portion formed to make 

